Page 15 of Not On Your Life

“Well, yeah, he was a little clingy. But he was a decent guy. I’m just saying, someday you’ll have to let a man see the imperfect side of you too. And that’s what you’re afraid of.”

That doesn’t even make sense.

So why is my skin crawling?

“Why are we talking about my dating history? I was complaining about my nemesis.”

“Oh, right.” Lyndi chuckles. “Go ahead and get back to that.”

I scrunch up my nose as I poke through my salad. “Eh. I’ve lost my fire. What are you up to?”

“Reorganizing the kitchen.”

“I thought you weren’t allowed in the kitchen after the mini fire?”

“I’m not, but Ward’s working overtime tonight, and I thought I’d rearrange everything. Just for fun.” There’s so much mischief in her voice I can feel it through the phone.

Ward will not appreciate the kitchen being reorganized. But a bit of organization is exactly what I need right now.

“I’ll be right over.” I can’t control my life, might as well focus on someone else’s.

Chapter 6

Connor

I slide away from my computer and rub my forehead. My vision is blurry, and the evidence in front of me needs fresh eyes. I need a break. And caffeine.

I stand and stretch then trudge to the break room.

Bri is there. Not surprising at all. If I didn’t know better, I’d think her office was the breakroom, and she got paid to gossip.

Her eyes light up when she sees me. “I was just talking about you.”

I’m sure she was.

Bri twirls one of her short blonde curls around her finger and bites her bottom lip.

She’s a perpetual flirt though I’ve never encouraged her. The night of the trial, she’d tried to kiss me, but I turned her down. She doesn’t seem hung up on it. But it’s hard to tell since she flirts with every male in the office. “Who will you be bringing to the company party?”

“No one.” I reach around her for the pot she’s blocking.

She giggles and touches my arm. “Don’t be silly. You have to bring someone. It’s practically law.”

I’m sure she’s making this up, like she does everything else, but she has been with the company longer than I have.

“I guess I’ll bring my sister.” I shrug and finally manage to free the kettle and locate my cup.

Her eyes run up and down my body like I’m a piece of meat, and she taps a manicured finger against my chest. “Well, if you change your mind”—she leans closer to me—“I can make myself available.”

And then she leaves the breakroom.

Hmm. Must be her break.

I yawn and drop onto the comfiest chair. I lean back and take a deep breath, hoping it will take some of the weight off my shoulders.

It doesn’t.

My debts right now are taller than this office building, and it’s suffocating.